50 Cent Dodges Copyright Bullet Over 2007 Song

BROOKLYN, N.Y. (CN) – Hip-hop artist 50 Cent defeated another rapper’s claims to the 2007 track “I Get Money (Straight to the Bank Pt. 2).” That rapper, Tyrone Simmons, said that he paid $600 to songwriter and producer William C. Stanberry for an “exclusive license” for the beats and rhythms titled “I Get Money Instrumental.” But Simmons said the beats remained on Stanberry’s website and eventually caught the attention of hip-hop producer Scott Muso, who sent them to 50 Cent. On June 27, 2007, Stanberry allegedly sent Simmons an apologetic email telling him to “pick any other beat you want but the ‘I Get Money’ [beat] is being used [by] 50 cent for his next single[.] [I] know I’m sorry man but this is good news [be]cause [you] can always get a track from an official producer. [A] lot of things about to change man, I hope you understand this is a once in a lifetime opportunity[.]” Declining the offer, Simmons filed a copyright lawsuit against Stanberry, Curtis Jackson aka 50 Cent and their companies in 2010. By that time, 50 Cent had sold more than two million copies of “I Get Money (Straight to the Bank Pt. 2),” and the clock had run out on the three-year statute of limitations for a copyright suit, according to an 11-page order released on Friday. U.S. District Judge Dora Irizarry dismissed all counts against 50 Cent, UMG Recordings, Interscope Records, Aftermath Records, Shady Recors and G-Unit Records. The judge has not yet ruled on the claims against Stanberry. Lawyers for Simmons could not immediately be reached by phone.